Starting mechanism for automobiles



B. u. KUNKLEQ STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6.1915.

1,437,06 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Bayard D. KUD/f/P 7 ATTORNEY B. D. KUNKLE.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILD APR. 6, 1915.

1,437,06 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNE SES: INVENTOR Bayard 0. frank/e 06 BY Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

PATENT OFFICE.

BAYARD D. KUNKLE, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING-noosa nmcrarc AND vam MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL-STABTING IECHANISH EOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed April 6, 1915. Serial Nb. 19,480.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BAYARD D. KUNKLE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Wilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State 0'Pennsylvania, have mvented a new and useful Improvement in StartingMechanism for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to starting mechanisms for automobiles andparticularly to such mechanisms as embody a shiftable pinion foreffecting the operative connection of starting motors to the engineshafts of automobiles or other motor vehicles. My invention has for itsobject to provide a simple and efficient means whereby the operativeconnection of a starting motor to the shaft of an internal combustionengine may be automatically controlled in accordance with the energysupplied to the motor.

Startin devices embodying a longitudinally shiftable pinion which coactswith a. gear wheel for establishing the operative connection of themotor to the engine shaft have been proposed heretofore. hey possesscertain disadvantages, however, in that the motor has acquired aconsiderable degree of speed when the gear wheels are brought intoengagement. The meshing of the gear wheels is rendered diflicult, notonly because of their relaltive angular movements, but because of thelateral pressure between the sides of the coacting teeth.

According to the present invention, a longitudinally slidable pinion isloosely mounted on the motor shaft. When energy is supplied to themotor, the pinion is shifted into engagement with a coacting gear wheeland, at the same time, the pinion 40. 1s connected to the motor shaftfor rotation therewith. V

The details of my invention will be described in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which F i 1 is a side view, partially inelevation an partially in section, of a starting mechanism constructedin accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 ofa modification. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatusemployed in the arrangement of Fi 2.

Re erring gine fly whee particularly to Fig. 1, an en- 1, only a portionof which-is shown, is provided with gear teeth 2. An electric motor 3 isprovided with a field magnet frame 4 having any suitable number ofpoles, only two of which are shown. The motor has an armature shaft 5which is prov ded with a radially projecting in 6. A pin on 7 havin asmooth bore fitting the plain shaft 5 is oosely and slidably mounted onthe shaft 5, and is provided with a clutch member 8 having a projectingmember 9 or inclined jaw for engaging the pin 6.

The position of the pinion 7, relatively to the shaft 5, is controlledby a lever 10 that is pivotally mounted on a lug '11 that may beintegral with the field-magnet frame 4. The lever 10 is provided with arearwardly projecting arm 12 which extends adjacent to the field-magnetframe and is adapted to be drawn toward the frame by magnetic force whenthe latter is energized by the fieldmagnet windings. A spring 13 servesto normally maintain the lever 10 and the pinion 7 in their respectiveillustrated positions. A housing 14 encloses the pinion 7 and the outerend of the armature shaft 5 and proviges a bearing for the latter at itsouter en It may be assumed that the various parts are in theirrespective illustrated positions, with the pinion 7 out of engagementwith the gear teeth 2. To start the engine, the circuit of the motor maybe completed by any suitable electrical means (not shown). When themotor windings are energized, the field magnet frame 4 exerts a magneticpull on the arm 12 which is sufficient to actuate the lever 10 againstthe tension of the spring 13. The motor rotates in a counterclockwisedirection, as viewed from the right in Fi 1. The pinion 7 is actuatedlongitudina y on the shaft 5 into mesh with the-gear wheel 2. The in 6,which is carried by the rapidly rotating shaft 5, engages the innerinclined surface of the clutch jaw 9and the pinion will be drawncompletely into mesh by the cam action of these coacting parts. The flywheel 1 is then rotated to crank the engine.

When theengine starts under its own power, the pinion 7 will be drivenat a speed greater than that of the motor shaft and the pinion will,accordingly, be caused to overrun the shaft. The relative motionof thesen I an em loyed to designate -corresponding per the slot in )IW cuterinclined sur iaw'of the {few 9, to sh1ft by the electromagnet19, issupplemented by the cam actioIkQf the rapidly moving pinpower, thepinion 15 overruns the motor...

parts operatesby I --1.: The disengagement of. the. fly wheel is insuredbyjzthe 'actiom'oi the V 1 3 spring 13 which has been placedundertensprin .13,.the pinion will be returne 'd-.hy

the lever 10 to its normal posltion. I

t cam inner inclined surface the pinion t0 -the' left,Ibnt

[engagement men when the gear wheels are'in mesh. As

motor, and the energization ofthe When the magnetic pull exerted uponthe arm 12 is less than that exerted' by ,the

'A modification of my inventionis illustrated in Fig. 2, in WhlChsimilar numerals parts. pinion 15'is provided with a elutch member 8for. coacting w1th a pm 6 in the manner above described in connectionwith Fig. 1. The pinion 15 is fnrther'provided with a longitudinallyextending sleeve mem-v ber 16 whichcoacts'with a reduced portlon 17 ofthe motorshaft. W I

The inion 15 audits connected parts are enclose by a housing 18 whlchsupports, at its outer end, an electromagnet 19, The electromagnetcomprises a coil 20,.that 1s in series with the windings of the motorif, and a movable core member 21 that is rigidlyconnected to the sleeve"member 16 of the pinion 15. A spring 22, that is interposed between theend of thereduced portion 17 and the end of the sleeve member 16,operates to normally retain the pinion 15 and the core member 21 intheirrespective illus trated positions.

viewed from the'right in 2. The coil.

20 is venergized to actuate the core member 21 and the pinion 15 to theleft to effect the engagem nt of the latter with the gear teeth 2. As ave described in connection with Fig. lathe force exerted upon the pinion15 6 and the clutch jaw 9:

When the engine starts under its own shaft, and the relative movementsof the clutch member 8 and the pin'6 serve to shift the pinion 15 to theright and out of engagemeat with right. soon as the engine starts underits own power, less urrent isre 11116Clt0'0 erate' the I I eldmage netpoles will be correspondingly decreased.

' ing ,or t

the .geai teeth 2.- Since the load of the motor is materially decreasedupon the startingof the engine, a'smaller current will traverse-itscircult, and the magnet 19 will .be de.- .energized to a-correspondingderee; pinionfh' e;

When the magnetic force exerted on t e .coremember 21' is less. than.that of the t e pinion-f5 and the connected parts the 1: will notedthat I provide a simple arrangement, whereby a shiftable pinion may ring22', the latter will assist in actuating be automatically actuated intoand out of engagement wit an engine member. There is no .possibility ofthe pinion remaining in engagement with the engine fly wheel after theengine starts under its own power hecause of the cam action that isproduced whenthe pinionoverruns the motor shaft. 1

In addition to this means for disengaging the gear wheels, the springs,which normally retain the Einion in an inoperative position, assist 1n eecting the disengagement of the connected partswhenthe opposing magneticforce exerted by the. controlling means is less than'that of thesprings.

I clalm' as my invention: 1 '1. In a startmg mechanism, the combinationwith an engine member, and a motor having a shaft provided with anengaging member, of a gear member loosely mountedon said shaft, andhaving a plurality of inclined portions extending laterally therefromfor coacting with said engaging member to-shift the driving member inopposite directions according as the motor constitutes the drive drlvenmember, and means for controlling said gear member.

2. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine member and anelectric motor having a shaft, of a driving member loosely mounted onsaid shaft, means compr1s1ng-a-co1l -1n series wlth said motor for.1n1t1at1ng the operative connection of said driving motor to saidengine member and to said shaft substantially simultaneously, andauxlhary means for assisting said first mentioned means to connect thedriving memberto said engine member and for rendering said connectioninoperativewhen the engine.

member has been started. 7

., 3. In a startin mechanism, the combination with an engine member andan electric motor having a drivin shaft, of a pinion loosely mounted onsaid shaft, electro-responslve means in series with said motor foreffecting the operative connection of said pinion to. said engine memberand to said shaft, and automatic means for assisting saidelectro-responsive means to conhect the pinion to the engine member andfor renderng said operative connection ineffectivewhen said enginemember has been started. l 4. In a starting mechanism, the combinatoassist in effecting connection between the movin said pinion into, andout of, operative re ation with said shaft and gear while device rigidlymounted upon said shaft and engine member and the gear member and forco-acting with a second inclined surface to withdraw the gear memberfrom operative connection with the engine member when the engine memberhas been started.

5. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine-driven gear,of a motor having a substantially plain shaft, a pinion mounted on saidshaft having a substantially smooth bore and slidable freelylongitudinally and rotatably thereof, and means for the motor isrotating, said means comprising co-operating devices on the motor shaftand on the pinion for advancing the pinion into meshing relation withsaid gear and coupling it to the shaft to crank the engine, and foruncoupling the pinion from the shaft and withdrawing it from its meshingrelation after the engine has been cranked.

6. In a starting mechanism, the combination with an engine-driven gear,of a motor having a substantially plain shaft, a pinion mounted on saidshaft having a substantiall smooth bore and slidable freely longitudinally and rotatably of said shaft, means for moving said pinion into,and out of, operative relation with said shaft and gear while the motorshaft is rotating, said means comprising co-operating devices on themotor shaft and on the inion for simultaneously advancing the pinioninto meshingrelation with said gear and coupling it to the shaft tocrank the engine, and for simultaneously uncoupling the pinion from theshaft and withdrawing it from its meshing relation after the engine hasbeen cranked, and resilient means co-operating with said devices duringsaid coupling and uncoupling operations.

7. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine member, a motor,a shaft rotated by said motor, and a driving member mounted on saidshaft, ofmeans for moving said driving member into driving engagementwith said engine member, said means comprising an electromagneticdevice, and a co-acting with said driving member.

8. In an engine starter, the combination with a member connected to theengine, a motor, a plain shaft rotated by said motor, and a drivi membermounted upon said shaft and a apted to engage and operate said enginemember .but normally out of engagement therewith, of means for causingthe driving member to slide longitudinally with respect to said shaft,and auxiliary means for assisting the movement of said 'drivingmemberinto engagement with said engine member and for effecting drivingconnection between the motor and driving member.

9. In an engine starter, the combination with an engine member, a motor,a plain shaft rotated by'said motor, a driving member mounted upon saidshaft, and means on said driving-member to engage with and opcrate theengine member but normally out of engagement therewith, of means formovin said driving member into engagement with the engine member, andauxiliary means operated by the rotation of the armature shaft forassisting themovement of the driving member into engagement with theengine member and for effecting a positive clutch connection between themotor and the driving member, said auxiliary means also serving toautomatically withdraw the driving member from such engagement when theengine runs on its own power. 7

10. In an engine starter, the combination with a member operativelyconnected with the engine, an electric motor having a plain shaftextension, a driving member mounted on said shaft and ada ted to drivethe engine member but norma ly out of engagement therewith, means forinitiating movement of the driving member to effect connection betweenthe engine member and the driving member, and auxlllary means mounted onthe driving member for engaging the shaftv whereby operation of themotor assists in advancing the driving memger into engagement with. theengine mem- 11. In an engine starter, the combination with an enginemember having teeth thereon, an electric motor having an extendedarmature shaft, a pinion mounted thereon for longitudinal and partialrotary movements relative thereto and adapted to mesh with the teeth onsaid engine member, means for initiating the movement of said pinioninto mesh with said teeth, and auxiliary means controlled by therotation of the shaft for assisting in advancing the pinion into meshwith said member, the subsequent rotation of said engine member, whichexceeds that of the shaft, withdrawing the being mounted nponmotor-operated;

, member to move into engagement with the .englne member, Saul meansservmg to release the J driving member -from sxuch 'eni gagement whenthe engine runs-on its own 410 power.

In testimony whereof; I have igliigcrlbed my name this 30th day ofM91611 7 1 BAYARD D. KUNKLE.

